JUST SOLD! 150 East Liberty Street Suite 1013 – Liberty Village

What a beaut! This awesome 2 level loft in 150 East Liberty Street – Liberty Place has sold. Congratulations to our wonderful client and the buyer who will surely love this loft for years to come!

150 East Liberty Street Suite 1013 Liberty Village Toronto Just Sold

This two level condo is truly special with ample space for entertaining. The main level features a large front foyer, a beautiful kitchen with modern cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and a breakfast bar. The open concept living and dining area is spacious and filled with natural light.  This space features a walk-out to the large south facing balcony where you can enjoy views of the lake and Liberty Village. There is also a powder room conveniently located on this level.

The second level includes a large den that is ideal for a home office.

The den leads into the spacious master bedroom which offers the same south facing views as the main floor. This level includes large closets and a wonderful master ensuite, plus the convenience of a laundry closet with a stacked washer and dryer.

This beautiful condo at 150 East Liberty Street is situated in the heart of Liberty Village.

The Village offers many great shops, restaurants, patios and bars all within walking distance. Underground parking is also included. This location allows for a quick drive to the financial district, the waterfront or to the Gardiner Expressway if you’re headed out of town for the weekend. Liberty Village is just minutes away from Toronto’s Entertainment District and world-class sporting venues such as Scotiabank Arena (formerly Air Canada Centre), BMO Field and Rogers Centre.

150 East Liberty Street features tons of wonderful amenities.

The amenities include a party room, fitness faciities and guest suites. Floor by floor, Liberty Place offers more with their lifestyle amenities. Two floors, dedicated to everything from working out to a detoxing steam, partying to escaping in a new book or surfing the net. The spaces are well-designed with comfort, convenience and your lifestyle in mind.

www.150eastliberty.ca

JUST SOLD! 437 Roncesvalles Avenue Suite 509 – Roncesvalles Village

437 Roncesvalles Avenue Suite 509 is a spectacular two level loft with two bedrooms and two washrooms. The floor to ceiling windows allow light to flood into the home with almost 11′ ceilings on both levels! The west facing terrace offers tree top views and High Park is just a short jog down the street. Our buyer clients knew that this was their perfect new home.

Just sold 437 Roncesvalles Avenue Suite 509

JUST SOLD! 122 Glen Manor Drive Townhome 4 – The Beaches

Congratulations to our wonderful clients on the sale of their beautiful townhome! In less than one week, 122 Glen Manor Drive, Townhome 4 saw a whirlwind of showings and two open houses. We’re excited for our clients to begin the next chapter in their lives, and for the buyers to enjoy their new home in Toronto’s Beach Village – just in time for summer!

122 Glen Manor Drive Townhome 4 Toronto Beaches

Townhouse Four of 122 Glen Manor Drive was completely renovated in 2015. It is part of a small secluded enclave of executive townhomes ideally located in the heart of the Beach. Truly an excellent location, steps to the boardwalk, bicycle path, parks, restaurants and neighbourhood shops. This townhome also enjoys lake views under the arbour of stately trees on Scarboro Beach Blvd.

A private brick courtyard with interlocking brick and lovely plants enhances the entranceway and welcomes guests to this exceptional home.

The front door opens to a foyer and a glimpse of the most stylish kitchen one could imagine. It is bright and airy with lovely views of the courtyard. It features an expanse of Quartz counters, beautiful cabinetry, a Farmhouse Apron sink with attractive open shelving, a pantry, stainless steel appliances and built-in laundry.

The flow of the main floor of 122 Glen Manor Drive, Townhome 4 is excellent for entertaining and is enhanced by classic California shutters on all windows and glass doors. Both the dining and living room spaces are generous and feature gorgeous wide plank flooring. This area is warm and comfortable with a delightful wood burning fireplace and a walk out to the south facing balcony. The large south facing windows ensure abundant sunshine and it is so easy to relax and enjoy a pleasant breeze from the waterfront.

A nicely finished staircase leads to the second level which is bright and sunny with three skylights, two spacious bedrooms and two beautifully renovated full baths. The flooring and California shutters, including the skylights, are continued on this level offering a nice consistent flow. The master bedroom overlooks the courtyard and features a sitting area and a double closet.

Lake views can be enjoyed from the second bedroom and the semi-ensuite bath is finished with style and offers a soaker tub for relaxing at any time.

Everything in the community is a short stroll from this picture perfect urban home, 122 Glen Manor Drive, Townhome 4. It is easy to be inspired to walk, jog or bicycle when living so close to the boardwalk and bicycle path. The shops and restaurants are abundant and close at hand as is the public transit for quick commuting to the downtown core.

Enjoy the ease of condo living in a special community, just minutes from the waterfront in our amazing cosmopolitan city!

www.122GlenManor.com

Sold in less than one week.

JUST SOLD! 92 Oakvale Avenue – The Pocket

92 Oakvale Avenue is a beautiful brick 2 and a half storey home with a view! Our buyer clients saw the potential in this home with an excellent location on a dead end street. 92 Oakvale Avenue offered original character details, such as an operational coal burning fireplace, hardwood flooring throughout, 3 bedrooms, and 1 washroom. Its location within walking distance to restaurants and shops on the Danforth – plus Left Field Brewery close by made this home the one.

Just sold 92 Oakvale Avenue

JUST SOLD! 225 Wellesley St E Suite 1207 – Cabbagetown Condo

Sold over asking in TWO days!

We’re so happy for our awesome clients who sold their one bedroom plus den, top floor suite in only two days!

just sold 225 wellesley street east suite 1207 toronto cabbagetown

Upon entering the suite you are immediately impressed by the open and airy floor plan, the attention to detail and the quality of finishes.

The open concept kitchen features beautiful wood cabinets, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, and a breakfast bar.

The living room is filled with natural light with large windows and a walk out to a private balcony. The living space, kitchen, master bedroom and den feature brand new engineered hardwood flooring for a seamless look.

The spacious den is ideal for a home office and could also be used as a media or guest room to suit your needs.

The 5 piece ensuite washroom is lovely featuring a full size bathtub and a separate shower. There is an additional powder room which is perfect for guests! Both washrooms feature brand new vanities for a fresh and modern look.

The master bedroom is absolutely stunning with ample natural light! Dual closets enhance this space perfectly.

The outdoor space is incredible. The private balcony provides enough space for a patio set to enjoy your morning coffee or a nice dinner on a warm summer evening.

Suite 1207 also includes ensuite laundry, a handy front hall closet for additional storage, a locker and parking!

Take a quick trip up one floor to the sprawling roof top terrace to enjoy barbequing while taking in impressive views of the downtown skyline!

JUST SOLD! 222 Old Weston Road – Carleton Village

222 Old Weston Road was the answer to our clients’ condo alternative hunt. The semi-detached two storey home offered two bedrooms, two washrooms, a bright open kitchen, and a backyard with deck. This home is located within walking distance to The Junction with numerous restaurants, shops and bars. We’re so happy for our clients who succeeded in their goal of skipping “the condo step” of home ownership in Toronto!

Just sold 222 Old Weston Road

Knock, Knock. How to Avoid Door-to-Door Scams

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It’s early in the evening and there’s a knock on the door. You answer and are greeted by an official-looking man who claims he needs to see your utility bill to confirm you’re getting your energy rebate.
Do you let him in?
While he may be legitimate, he may also be using deception to sell you something you don’t want. Here are some suggestions for finding out:
• Ask for a business card. Then, check if it has an address, phone
number and website. If the salesperson refuses or just shows you his
ID card (which anyone can fake), that’s a red flag.
• Ask for the name of his employer. Sometimes salespeople will say
they “represent the phone company”. That doesn’t mean they
actually work for it.
• Ask if you can call his company to confirm details before buying. If he
refuses, or says the office is closed, shut the door.
• Ask if you can consider the offer and call the office the next day to
place your order.
• If you’re really suspicious, ask him to come back later. Then, call the
non-emergency police number. Police are aware of common scams
in the area.
Most importantly, use your common sense. Door-to-door salespeople can
be pretty persuasive, but if something doesn’t seem right to you, trust your
gut. Say, “No thanks.”
Of course, if everything checks out with the salesperson, and the offer is a
good one, consider taking advantage of it.

Toronto Real Estate Board ordered to open up online sales data

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The Toronto Real Estate Board must let its member brokers release more home sales data to the public via the internet, the federal Competition Tribunal ordered Friday, in a move that could resonate across Canadian real estate markets.

The tribunal’s order, which follows an April ruling that TREB was stifling competition by restricting access to data on its proprietary Multiple Listing Service, says TREB must let its members offer searchable online databases called “virtual office websites.”

Those databases allow access to important information held in MLS, including data like sales prices, broker commissions, and withdrawn listings, as well as archived data.

“We’ve always taken the position where the more information that consumers have, the better decisions they can make,” said John Pasalis, president of the Toronto real estate brokerage Realosophy and a witness in favour of opening up the data.

“We’re going to look at making it more widely available on our website now,” said Pasalis.

Some Toronto-area real estate agents are champing at the bit to take advantage of the Competition Tribunal’s order as quickly as possible. Ara Mamourian, owner of Spring Realty, wrote in his blog that releasing the previously restricted information via his company’s search tool will save time and hassle for brokers and buyers alike.

Even brokers outside of Toronto have their eye on the Competition Tribunal’s order, and expect it to impact their local markets.

“Most likely because TREB is the biggest board, I think it’s going to trickle down right to the smallest board out there,” said Mayur Arora, a realtor with Oneflatfee.ca and a member of the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board.

Limits on home sales data

Still, the Competition Tribunal’s ruling does set some limits on exactly which MLS data can be released online.

Consumers who want to access the data will have to have a password-protected account with the broker providing it, and individual home sellers can request that TREB exclude their home sale information from the online databases. TREB can also keep certain private information about a home seller confidential, including mortgage and security information.

The Tribunal also said “TREB may limit members’ use to being directly related to the business of providing residential real estate brokerage services.”

The order represents a victory for the federal Competition Bureau. In its original application to get the data released, the bureau said the data will allow real estate agents “to offer consumers the convenience of data-driven insights into home sales prices and trends via the web and to improve the efficiency and quality of their services.”

TREB has 60 days from June 3 to implement the changes, and was also ordered to pay the Competition Commissioner’s legal costs of more than $1.8 million. In a statement, TREB CEO John DiMichele said TREB has filed a notice of appeal, but is reviewing the order with its lawyers before commenting publicly.

An ongoing legal saga

The tribunal’s ruling is the latest development in a case that goes back years. In 2011, the Competition Bureau sued TREB, Canada’s largest real estate board, for restricting the ways in which its member agents could release data from the Multiple Listing System.

The Competition Bureau said TREB’s practices were anti-competitive, and kept customers from accessing information that would help them buy a house. At the time, TREB said it was “legally and morally required to respect” the private information involved in real estate sales. The Competition Tribunal dismissed that case, but hearings began again in 2015 following a successful appeal by the Competition Bureau.
SOURCE: CBC NEWS

Two Decades Of Steady Price Appreciation In The GTA

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Steady average price appreciation over close to two decades makes GTA housing market a global anomaly, says RE/MAX Hallmark
214 per cent increase in real estate values since 1996

Toronto, ON (January 12, 2016) – Low interest rates, coupled with population growth and solid economic fundamentals, contributed to a 214 per cent increase in average residential housing values in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) over almost two-­-decades, according to RE/MAX Hallmark Ltd., one of country’s largest real estate franchises.

The GTA housing market is now entering its 20th year of consecutive price appreciation, on the heels of a record-­-breaking 2015. The market has reported a steady increase in values since 1996, when the cost of an average home in the GTA hovered at $198,150. Average price broke through the $600,000 benchmark in 2015, settling at $622,217 – an increase of 6.21 per cent when compounded annually over the 19-­-year period.

“The overall strength and stability of Toronto’s housing market is a global anomaly,” says Ken McLachlan, Broker-­-Owner, RE/MAX Hallmark Ltd. “Very few large residential housing markets can compete with the GTA’s performance over the past two decades”

When analyzing the level of growth in the Greater Toronto Area, population played a serious role. In 2014, the Toronto CMA topped six million (6,055,724), a figure eight per cent higher than the 2011 Census population of 5,583,064 and a substantial 42 per cent uptick over the 1996 Census figure of 4,263,757.

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The low interest rate environment has also influenced home buying activity in the GTA. While the average residential mortgage-­-lending rate for a five-­-year term hovered at approximately eight per cent in 1996, the same product can be had for under three per cent in today’s competitive market.
Homeownership rates have also steadily increased in the GTA, in spite of rising values. Between 1996 and 2006, the level of ownership jumped approximately 10 per cent in the GTA (58.4 per cent to 67.6 per cent). The most recent available rates for the province of Ontario sat at 71.4 per cent in 2011.

Given the turbulence the GTA market has withstood –recessions, 9/11, and SARS, just to name a few – the performance is “nothing short of remarkable”, explains McLachlan.

“Moving forward, there is no reason to expect the upward trend to end,” says McLachlan. “In light of recent volatility in the stock market and overall economic uncertainty, we anticipate an upswing in home buying activity as investors look to tangible assets like bricks and mortar to ride out the storm. The strength of the US dollar will also contribute, serving as an impetus for greater investment in the Greater Toronto Area throughout 2016.”

WHAT TO CHECK ON YOUR FINAL PURCHASER VISIT

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When you purchase a home in Toronto, your Realtor will likely include at least 2 purchaser visits in the agreement of purchase and sale to occur before you close on the property. These visits can be used to make sure furniture fits, bring your family to see your new home, select paint colours, etc. You should plan to do your final purchaser visit a day or two before the closing date to ensure that everything is in order. Your Realtor will attend the purchaser visits with you and can help to answer any questions you might have. Now remember, you don’t own the home yet so there is a good chance that you will see moving boxes scattered around and the place might seem to be in disarray. This is normal (within reason). If your final purchaser visit takes place a day before closing and the house is full of garbage, no furniture has been moved and there is a car in the driveway with no tires on it, your realtor should definitely investigate further as it’s not likely that all of this will be resolved in one night.

Here is a list of things to look for during your final purchaser visit:

• Inspect ceilings, walls and floors for any damage that did not exist at the time you made your offer
• Turn on and off every light switch
• Test heating and air conditioning
• Test any exhaust fans
• Test all appliances
• Open and close all windows
• Test all of the outlets
• Check around all visible piping for leaks
• Run sink and tub water. Flush toilets
• Test the garage door opener
• Check for things that you thought would be included (appliances, light fixtures, etc)

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